Using a treadmill to practice crossovers?

[TickleMeYandle]

Back when I was speedskating, we would practice off-ice crossovers either by using a hill and going up sideways, or using a cable and having a partner pull on it to mimic the centrifugal force. I also used the treadmill from time to time - crank up the incline, go nice and slow, turn sideways and really lean the hip into it before bringing the other foot around.

Is this something that would be helpful for hockey-style crossovers as well? The leg extension doesn't seem to be nearly as deep but I'm thinking the concept might be close enough that it could still help. At the very least, it would get that feeling of foot over foot. Crossovers were always the hardest thing for me and it took forever to get them. I was pretty good going counter-clockwise but clockwise is not something I ever had to do.

I did work on some crossover drills on the ice today - just going across the blue line, crossing right over left and then going the other way. I even did a few while skating. I can tell that the muscle memory is there, it just needs to be reactivated and I have to adjust a bit to having all of the padding and a little less blade to work with.

 

[Jarick]

There are kids working on skating treadmills up here in Minny, but I don't know if they do crossovers. I bet you could though. A lot of kids do ladder drills for agility, which is I think what you're talking about. Crossovers up a hill sounds like a good idea, provided you avoid injury.

 

[TickleMeYandle]

It's mostly just to get the feeling of being low, putting all of the weight on that outside edge and then pushing. No skates, just shoes and getting the muscles used to going over rather than just to the side.